Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
2-1-2, 0-0-0
Southern Indiana
0-5-2, 0-0-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Ind. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Eastern Mich. | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Soccer Nets Three Second-Half Goals to Secure Senior Day Win Over USI
9/6/2026 5:30:00 PM | Soccer
Freshman Lauren Yaquinto netted 81st-minute game-winner
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University soccer team rallied past the University of Southern Indiana, 3-1, at Scicluna Field Sunday, Sept. 6, scoring three unanswered second-half goals to complete a comeback victory and improve to 2-1-2 on the season.
After trailing 1-0 at halftime, Eastern showed its resilience with a dominant second-half performance that featured season highs in shots (19) and corner kicks (10). The Eagles outshot the Screaming Eagles 19-2 and held a 9-1 edge in shots on goal, turning relentless offensive pressure into three second-half goals to secure the result.
How It Happened
The University of Southern Indiana struck first in the 12th minute when Liza Anderson converted her only shot of the match, assisted by Tierney Mullady and Shea Krakowski, to give USI a 1-0 lead that held through the break.
Coming out of halftime, EMU pressed with urgency. Forward Olivia Sipsock (Medina, Ohio/Medina) earned a penalty kick opportunity early in the second half, but USI goalkeeper Merrick Schwalbach turned it away to keep the deficit intact.
Eastern kept pressing, and the breakthrough came in the 63rd minute. Defender Christie Fransen (Wooster, Ohio/Wooster/Bowling Green) stepped up and calmly converted a penalty kick to level the match at 1-1, sparking the comeback in earnest.
With just over nine minutes remaining in regulation, forward Lauren Yaquinto (Northville, Mich./Northville) put Eastern ahead for the first time, finishing a setup from forward Avery Hilvert (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) at 80:44 to make it 2-1. The go-ahead goal was Yaquinto's first of her career.
Midfielder Tayla Maddock (Camlachie, Ontario/St. Patrick's Catholic High School) sealed the result in the 88th minute, coming off the bench to score the insurance goal and complete the 3-1 final. Schwalbach finished with six saves on 19 shots faced for the University of Southern Indiana.
Game Notes
» Eastern Michigan moved to 2-1-2 overall (0-0-0 MAC) while the University of Southern Indiana fell to 0-5-2 overall (0-0-0 OVC).
» Eastern Michigan held a 19-2 advantage in shots and a 10-2 margin in corner kicks. EMU's 19 shots and 10 corner kicks were both 2026 season highs.
» Christie Fransen scored her second goal of the 2026 season, giving her two career goals and four career points.
» Lauren Yaquinto's game-winning goal at 80:44 was the first of her career, pushing her career totals to one goal and two points.
» Avery Hilvert registered the assist on Yaquinto's goal — the first career assist and first career point of her career.
» Tayla Maddock scored the insurance goal in the 88th minute in just 14 minutes off the bench, giving her two career goals and five career points.
» Midfielder Kaylee Synk led Eastern Michigan with three shots (one on goal) in 41 minutes off the bench.
» Goalkeeper Ella Holland played all 90 minutes in net, allowing one goal on two shots faced. She is 2-1-2 on the season with a 0.50 goals-against average and .846 save percentage.
» The victory snapped a two-game scoreless draw streak for Eastern and marked the second time EMU has scored three goals in a match in 2026 — the first was also a 3-1 result against Duquesne University on Aug. 12.
» Head coach Taylor Clarke earned his 14th win at Eastern Michigan with the result, improving his overall career record to 56-32-19.
The match was played in front of an attendance of 357 at Scicluna Field.
Historical Notes
» Eastern Michigan leads the all-time series against the University of Southern Indiana, 2-0-0. Both meetings have ended with the identical score of 3-1 in EMU's favor — the first on Aug. 28, 2025, in Evansville, Ind., and Sunday's result at Scicluna Field.
» The last time Eastern Michigan scored three goals in one half was Aug. 22, 2024, at UIC.
Up Next
Eastern travels to take on Milwaukee Thursday, Sept. 10, in Milwaukee, Wis.
Follow Us
For the latest news and updates on Eastern Michigan Women's Soccer, visit EMUEagles.com and follow the program on social media.
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Liza Anderson (1)
Assisted By: Tierney Mullady , Shea Krakowski
GOAL by USI Anderson, Liza Assist by Mullady, Tierney and Krakowski, Shea.
11:05
Christie Fransen (1)
EMU Christie Fransen PENALTY KICK GOAL.
63:07
Lauren Yaquinto (1)
Assisted By: Avery Hilvert
GOAL by EMU Yaquinto, Lauren Assist by Hilvert, Avery.
80:44
Tayla Maddock (1)
GOAL by EMU Maddock, Tayla.
88:22